The Will County Board voted 15-6 Thursday to reject a solar farm in Monee Township that was proposed near the Meadow Creek Airpark after nearby residents raised concerns the solar facility would be too close to a runway used by homeowners and amateur pilots.
The board Thursday also postponed decisions on a controversial hydro-excavation business in Homer Township and whether to create a land bank using federal pandemic relief funds.
GreenFlow Energy LLC was seeking a special-use permit to build a 9-megawatt solar energy facility on about 20 acres on the south side of Dralle Road, just east of Harlem Avenue.
Chris Thomsen, Meadow Creek Airpark’s manager, said he opposed the solar farm due to potential safety issues. The landing and take-off phases are critical for the pilots and if something were to go wrong, there’s “no way you can land in a solar farm and survive.”
“I think it is common sense you wouldn’t put a solar farm next to an active runway,” Thomsen said.
Any glares or slight changes in the atmosphere created by the solar panels could become catastrophic, resident Sam Rolph said.
The runway is just 40-feet wide and there are homes nearby, he said.
Paul Brown, developer of the solar farm, said although there is concern of the proximity of the runway, there have been no incidents of crashes near solar farms on or adjacent to other airports around the world.
Marguerite Kenny, zoning administrator with the Will County Land Use Department, said the Federal Aviation Administration has signed off on the solar project.
County Board members said there is a difference between large airplanes with sophisticated instruments and licensed pilots versus a small airfield with pilots of various degrees of experience, some who are just learning to fly.
Putting a solar facility so close to an airpark was probably not thought of when Springfield lawmakers enacted legislation to mandate local boards approve solar projects, said board member Judy Ogalla, a Monee Republican.
“We’ve never voted on a solar facility that was being proposed to be built next to a small airpark,” Ogalla said. “We don’t have any data to support the impact on small planes (or) on inexperienced people who fly.”
Board member Frankie Pretzel, a New Lenox Republican who chairs the Land Use and Development Committee, said he is worried accidents could happen.
“This isn’t a traditional airport,” Pretzel said. “This is a runway that they built homes around. … These are not all experienced pilots. These are not large planes with autopilot.”
Board member Jackie Traynere, a Bolingbrook Democrat, said planes could still crash near any airport with or without solar panels adjacent to it. Pilots at Meadow Creek have a greater risk hitting a nearby home or a tree, she said, adding she voted yes to follow state solar regulations.
Badger Daylighting Corporation
The board postponed until August a proposal by Badger Daylighting Corporation to build an office and house its trucks on about 38 vacant acres at 15202 W. 159th St., Homer Township.
Homer Township and Homer Glen residents and officials have protested a plan for Badger to relocate its nondestructive hydro-excavation business from Channahon. The Homer Glen Village Board filed a formal objection in May, which triggers a supermajority vote for it to be approved.
An online petition opposing the project reached more than 800 signatures this week, resident Mark Gawron said.
Nearby residents said they were concerned about the impact to the water table, because adjacent homeowners rely on well and septic systems.
Company officials said it would use about 20,000 gallons of water per day and offered to fill its trucks with water at an off-site location. They also offered to sell or donate the unused portion of their land to the Forest Preserve District of Will County.
Residents also cited concerns over increased truck traffic, noise and pollution. The company is expected to park about 30 trucks on the property, most of which will be under roof, and generate 80 to 120 trips per day.
Badger officials asked the board to postpone the project to allow time to work on concerns with neighbors and elected officials.
Lydia Simrayh with the Indiana, Illinois, Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting urged the board to approve the project, saying it is a $6 million investment that will support union jobs.
Homer Township Supervisor Sue Steilen said rezoning the parcel would show the County Board values corporations more than its residents.
Homer Glen officials said the project is against its comprehensive plan.
Village Engineer Brett Westcott said the village has invested $13 million in infrastructure to bring utilities to the area to support developments.
Land bank
The board postponed for the second month a proposal to create a Will County land bank authority.
The board debated the issue at two meetings this week, but board members still had questions, leading to delay the issue indefinitely. County Board Speaker Joe VanDuyne, a Wilmington Democrat, said he plans to talk with Republican and Democratic leaders to see how they want to proceed.
The Will County Center for Economic Development wants to use about $1 million in federal pandemic relief grant funds to create a land bank, which is designed to redevelop blighted properties so they can return to the tax rolls. The funds must be used this year or they will be clawed back by the federal government.
University Park Mayor Joseph Roudez told board members Tuesday that when he took office in 2019, there were more than 200 boarded up and abandoned properties. Though the efforts working with the South Suburban Land Bank, there are now fewer than 20 such properties and “development is soaring to new heights,” he said.
There are roughly 1,500 vacant and abandoned properties countywide, which is a small amount, said Hugh O’Hara, executive director of the Will County Governmental League. Many Will County communities do not have a lot of blighted property, but for those that do, the land bank could be an important tool toward redevelopment, he said.
Sherry Newquist, a Steger Democrat, said her district includes a “fair amount of blight.” She is interested in creating a land bank to revitalize communities.
Other board members said they did not want to rush the program. An amendment to the creation of the land bank was proposed before the meeting and some board members said that was not enough time to review changes.
Board member Destinee Ortiz, a Romeoville Democrat, said she wants to ensure protections are in place to avoid corruption.
“I don’t know what boogeyman you think are hiding behind this land bank,” Traynere said. “I don’t know what corruption you think is going to take place. I’ve heard nothing but good things about these land banks.”
Board members raised concerns about finances and said they want to ensure the land bank would not cost taxpayers any money. They also want more information about properties that would be targeted and more input from mayors in Will County communities.
Board members also wanted to ensure their questions are answered before approving the proposal, Republican Leader Jim Richmond, of Mokena, said.
Richmond said one concern was that the Center for Economic Development proposed the land bank in the 11th hour to use pandemic grants before they expire.
“There’s many times you let the horse out of the barn and can’t get it back in the barn,” he said.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
